Memorial Day Ramblings

Today is the day we celebrate Memorial Day...although the original day is tomorrow. I watched the photo op of the laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier and I felt my heart twist. I listened to the speech telling us that the way to honor the many brave men and women who fell during the wars this Country has engaged in is to STAY THE COURSE.

Am I being hard on the man when I snort and think about how he honored this Country during HIS time to serve by first getting into the National Guard and then going A.W.O.L. from that cushy service?

I had a brother who ALSO enlisted rather than go to Viet Nam in the Army. He enlisted, though, in the Navy and saw duty in Viet Nam...six years to be exact.

My father...well...Dad was NOT the bravest of soldier. He was drafted at the beginning of the second World War. To say that he spent most of his time doing KP rather than training to carry the weapons of war would be a modest understatement. Dad was NOT cut from soldier cloth...but he did NOT evade the call to put his civilian life on hold...and although he was, for the most part, a coward, he served by taking care of the feeding of those who WERE a bit braver than he. He did NOT go A.W.O.L. from his cushier position. He did not circumvent his duty to serve as the government saw fit to require his service.

I have a son who enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard that is by its very definition contracted to police OUR Coasts. He fulfilled his tour JUST before 9/11 and this administration's declaration of war on Iraq. When that declaration was made, my son wanted to re-enlist. DID HE? He was married by that time with a step-child. Back when this administration first threw its collective hat into the ring to run for the Presidency, I saw in Dubya's eyes the truth that if elected, we would go back to Iraq and finish what Bush Sr. did not...so I implored my son NOT to re-enlist. Something told me that a man who evaded service in the war of HIS generation would not have any idea what conducting a war involved...Sadly, time has proven my premonitions right.

My heart aches for the men and women placed in harm's way. They are heroes each and every one of them. I honor them on this day and EVERY day because they have EARNED my honor and respect. I am too old to serve and have to admit that were I not, I am not sure I would have the courage to place myself in their armor...any more than the offspring of this administration who ARE of the right age to serve, seem to be.

Perhaps that is the worst hypocrisy of this war. STAY THE COURSE...but none of HIS or his MINIONS have any stakes in the wellbeing of those who are FIGHTING this Course he and his minions push us to honor. None of Dubya's, Cheney's, Jeb's, Rumsfeld's offspring felt this conflict worthy of THEIR service.

To all those who DID step forward and all those who have stepped forward and served, I thank you. To those who have lost loved ones in ALL our conflicts, thank you. To those who have yet to see combat, Bless you for bravery that shines so bright and courage that supercedes anything I have done in my 50 plus years.